Fitting for luggage



Feb. 11, 1947. c. SCHUHMANN FITTING FOR LUGGAGE Filed July 29, 1944 INVENTOR. Clkristiarz A ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1947 oFFic-E FITTING FORLUGGAGE Christian Schuhmiann, BrooklyhfN. Y. Application July 29, 194i,fs'eria1N6. 547,186 a proved fittings of the character mentioned which are characterized by being formed of pieces of heavy wirebent into loop-like formation and having their ends opposed and adjacent each other. The invention proposes the provision of means for interlocking said ends together s that they willnot separate;

Prior to the present invention it was customary to construct luggage fittings from pieces of heavy wire bent into loop-like formation and having their ends opposed and adjacent each other.

However, no provision was made for interlocking these ends together. Consequently, when the luggage was used to carry heavy articles there was a tendency for the fittings to open. Basically, this invention proposes correcting this deficiency.

The invention proposes several modified forms for the means for interlockingly connecting toether the ends of the loop-like formation of the heavy pieces of wire.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an article as mentioned, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a piece of luggage provided with fittings constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is aside elevational view of another luggage fitting constructed in accordance with a modified form of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal elevational view looking in the direction of the line l'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

the

1 Claim. (01. 190-56) shank portion 22 there are shoulders 24.

" Fig.9 isa perspective view of a beltbuckle constructed'in accordance with this invention.

The new and'improved luggage or the like fitting, in accordance with this invention, is in the nature of a closed link l0 which may be usedfor connecting the handle ll witha piece of luggage l2. The piece of luggage I2 is provided with the usualtubular members i4 secured on the luggage 12 by the tabs IS. The closed links l0 pass through openings It in the handle I l and through the tubular portions Hi. The invention resides in the constructionof each closed link I0. Hereftofore, similar closed links have been made from heavy pieces of wire which were merelybent into shape. If the luggage is very'heavy there is a tendency for the annular member to open.

The new and improved closed link It], in accordance with this invention, is formed from a piece of heavy wire bent into a rectangular formation and having its ends l8 and I9 opposed and adjacent each other, and one of said ends, namely the end I9, is formed with a headed projection 29 cut from the material thereof which engages a socket 2! cut in the other of said ends, namely the end It, for interlocking said ends together.

The headed projection 20 when viewed from the top includes a shank portion 22 connecting with an enlarged head portion 23. Adjacent the The socket 2! is cut so as to receive the headed projection 2a.

A detail of the way in which the new and improved closed link is used is shown in Fig. 2. It should be noted that the interengaging end portions l8 and I9 are interengaged Within the tube i4, Initially, the socket 2| is manufactured in a spread condition so that the headed projection 25! may be slipped into it. With this arrangement it is possible to engage the end portions [8 and !9 into the opposite ends of the tube l4. The end portions are forced against each other so that the headed projection 28] engages into the socket 2!. Then a suitable tool, not illustrated on the drawing, i forced into the tube l4 so as to compress the socket 2!, causing the socket to engage and interlock with the headed projection 29. The tube [4 is of a diameter to easily permit this engagement to take place Within the tube.

In Figs. 68 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed, which is very similar to the prior form, distinguishing in the fact that the shank 22 is provided with bead-like ribs or projections 26 formed on the opposite faces thereof along the central area. The socket portion 2| is correspondingly shaped so as to engage the horizontal ribs 26.

In assembling this form of the invention, it is done in much the same manner as is practiced in assembling the first form of the invention, The socket portion 2! is manufactured in a spread condition and the headed shank 22 is inserted into the socket portion and the socket portion 2! is then squeezed shut. V

In other respects this form ofthe invention is similar to that previously shown and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

An important feature of the closed link disclosed in Figs. 6-8 resides in the fact that the horizontal ribs 26 will prevent the end portions l8 and J9 from moving in the plane of the shank, and thus they will prevent accidental disengagement of the inter-locking end portions. It is pointed out that the end portion 18 cannot move up or down relative to the end portion [9 because of the horizontal ribs 26. The end portions I8 and I9 cannot move axially away from each other because of the inter-engaged headed projection 20 and socket 2|.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what, I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

In a container for luggage having a handle member connected therewith by kinematic means, said means comprising a closed link formed from heavy wire and of substantially rectangular configuration, said link having a pair of juxtaposed interlocked free end portions, one of said end portions being bifurcated and connecting with an enlarged socket portion extending perpendicular to the axis of said bifurcated end por- CHRISTIAN SCHUHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,364 Coffeen Nov. 28, 1893 1,129,967 -Eiseman Mar. 2, 1915 1,558,364 Iverson Oct. 20, 1925 1,596,561 Tueckmantel Aug. 17, 1926 2,299,357 Strunk et a1. Oct. 20, 1942 1,667,311 Fitzgerald Apr. 24, 1928 

